An instructional film for the telephone using a combination of animation and live action. Produced by Max and Dave Fleischer.
Copied at 24fps from a 35mm print preserved by the Library of Congress, drawing from material from the AFI/Donald Nicol and AFI/Ahti Pataja Collections.
Reviewer:
Yowp
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October 13, 2020 Subject:
Clever Film
Wonderfully inventive, this is an exceptional, most-animated short, with the kind of anthropomorphic gags one would expect from a Fleischer cartoon of
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this vintage. The injured candlestick telephone evokes sympathy and laughs from the viewer, and Mr. Phone Abuser learns his lesson at the end.
Reviewer:
Pixieguts
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January 11, 2014 Subject:
Excellent!
Playful delight.
Reviewer:
randomc
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September 11, 2005 Subject:
Max Fleischer is a god...
I really love Fleischer cartoons. The inspired goofiness really appeals to me. Maybe I should worry about that... I can't wait for robotics to advance
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to the point where we can have Fleischer-inspired ambulatory furnishings. I also wish my beard could be prehensile like the doctor's. Now that would be handy! I was startled (but upon thinking about it, not particularly surprised) to find that they were selling pointless phone accessories since day one. Sheesh. Remember kids: Be nice to your phone, and a pretty nurse will let you have a baby boy - now you're talking!
Reviewer:
Wilford B. Wolf
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July 21, 2005 Subject:
Now You're Talking!
Beautifully preserved silent advertising film from Max Fleischer. The film starts off with a man trying to talk into a phone while trying to smoke a cigar.
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After failing to hear clearly (clearly failing to grasp how to use a phone), the man falls asleep. His dream is done in the classic 1920's Fleischer style, using word balloons when characters needs to speak. The film relies on simple black and white lines, much like his later sound film "Finding His Voice". A anthropomorphic phone is rushed into the hospital. When the doctor examines him, the phone complains of fatigue and the doctor examines the phone's diary. The diary covers all the don't of the day; don't get the cord wet, don't tangle the cord, look up correct number when speaking with the operator, etc. It should be noted that the film does contain a stereotypical portrayal of a African American zookeeper, complete with stereotypical speech. After the rules are covered, the man wakes up, remembers the rules and is able to hear what's going on. The print for this film is in excellent condition and a fine example of Fleischer's style of the period.